News

01.07.2025 - Closure of Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy from 3pm today

Eligible applicants who submitted their application before 15:00 BST on 1 July 2025 will still be able to make eligibility applications for their immediate family members and additional family members after this date.

No explanation is provided as to why it was necessary to close the scheme seemingly without any advance notice. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme is also being formally closed, although it was not possible to apply under that anyway.

25.06.2025 - Private Life effective from 29 July 2025

Under the new rules, children who have lived in the UK for seven years will now qualify for settlement after five years. 

Continuous Residence requirements for a child born in the UK applying for settlement on the Private Life route, the period of continuous residence may include time spent in the UK with or without permission.

 This development is of great utility to families with young children, and young people who came to the UK at an earlier age and are looking to make the UK their permanent home.

Additionally, young people granted permission in the UK on the basis of their family or priv...

24.06.2025 - EU Settlement Scheme - changes to permitted absences

Changes effective from 16 July 2025 the definition of “continuous qualifying period" to change the position on permitted absences. 

To simplify the assessment of continuous residence, these changes enable a pre-settled status holder to be granted settled status where they have been resident in the UK for at least 30 months in total in the most recent 60-month period. This can be any 30 months within that 60-month period.

24.06.2025 - Continuous Residence effective from 29 July 2025

Although this particular section has been substantially redrafted, there is only one notable change, and that is that time spent in the Crown Dependencies (the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey), on a route equivalent to those in the UK, will count as lawful presence in the UK in future. 

10.06.2025 - No more 90-day Vignettes (stickers) for some main applicants from 15 July 2025

From 15 July, main applicants for the following visas will only get an eVisa (no 90-day vignette in their passport): 

•    Students (including short-term up to 11 months)
•    Global Business Mobility
•    Global Talent
•    International Sportspersons
•    Skilled Workers (including Health and Care)
•    Temporary Workers
•    Youth Mobility Scheme

Dependants and children will still get both a vignette (sticker) and an eVisa.  

Simpler process for people with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR/Settlement)   

In response to stakeholder feedback, the Home Office simplified the process for getting ...






03.06.2025 - High Court rules sponsor should have been given chance to make representations before licence revocation

The High Court in R (TJ Trading Express Limited) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 1274 (Admin) held that before revoking the sponsor’s licence for non-compliance, the Home Office should have given the business an opportunity to make representations in response to its allegations.

Background

The claimant is a company that runs a petrol station and shop which was granted a Skilled Worker licence on 27 September 2022. The company’s director is Mr Jayaganth Ragunathan, who was also a Level 1 user, meaning he was authorised to take actions in respect of the company’s licence...

12.05.2025 - The immigration white paper

The immigration white paper has been published containing proposals for future legislation. The summarised proposals from the paper are set out in full below but some of the main changes are the standard period for settlement in points based system routes is to be doubled to ten years, graduate visas will be reduced to 18 months, the immigration skills charge is to increase by 32%.

A new “temporary shortage” occupation list will be used for roles below RGF6 and the social care visa route is to be closed. Some sort of talent beyond boundaries scheme is to be introduced. English language require...

29.04.2025 - The armed forces immigration rules

The armed forces immigration rules were introduced in 2004 and have been through a number of revisions since then. 

In 2013 the introduction of Appendix Armed Forces, mirroring Appendix FM but thankfully without the ‘alphabet soup’. Appendix Armed Forces was then withdrawn and replaced by Appendix HM Armed Forces on 11 April 2024.

While many of the requirements in Appendix FM and Appendix HM Armed Forces were the same, such as the minimum income and suitability requirements, armed forces families were given a number of discretions in reflection of their sponsor’s service. 

What discretions are...

16.04.2025 - A guide to right to work checks

Employers in the UK are required to conduct right to work checks to ensure that their employees have the legal right to work. If the employer knows, or ought to know, that the individual does not have permission to work, they can face civil penalties of up to £60,000 and can also face criminal sanctions and closure of the business.

Until recently, employers were not required to conduct right to work checks where the worker was not a direct employee, such as workers who are self-employed. A recent announcement from the Home Office has confirmed that soon this will no longer be the case and “emp...

07.04.2025 - Challenging the suspension and revocation of a sponsor licence

Sponsorship compliance is high on the Home Office’s agenda. Suspensions and revocations are on the rise and the Government has made cracking down on "shameless employers" central to their future immigration policy. The impending government "white paper" should also set out tougher sanctions for employers who fail to meet their duties as a sponsor.

The loss of a sponsor licence can be catastrophic for a business and its employees. The sponsored workers are likely to lose their jobs, have their visas curtailed to 60 days and need to find new employment to be able to remain in the UK. The sponsor...

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